by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- "She's back!"
Those were the first two words out of the mouth of a
relieved Jim Morrill Jr. after he drove Mosquito Blue Chip ($3.70) to an
impressive 1-1/2 victory over She's Heavenly in a track record time of 1:53.3
in the New York Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old filly pacers at Buffalo Raceway
Wednesday night (June 3). The time broke the old standard of 1:54.1 established
in 2014 by Sweetnsinful.
Band Of Angels and Bettorhaveanother also scored
victories in their respective $39,900 divisions, but neither could top the
performance turned in by Mosquito Blue Chip.
The 2014 New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old filly pacing
champion, Mosquito Blue Chip started the season with three rather mundane tries,
finishing no better than fourth. But Morrill Jr. knew her fortunes were ready
to change.
"I thought she was a little better last week but didn't
give her the best trip. But I knew she was coming around," Morrill Jr.
said.
Mosquito Blue Chip was sent right to the lead from the five
post and set reasonable fractions of 28.2, 57.2 and 1:26.1. But it was all over
from there as Mosquito Blue Chip (Bettor's Delight-Vanite Semalu) cruised to a
27.2 to final panel to keep any threats from developing.
"She needed no urging," Morrill Jr. said of the
last quarter mile.
She's Heavenly (Kevin Cummings) took the place position
while Bettor N Better (Matt Kakaley) finished in third.
With her first victory in four starts this year, the Paul
Jessop-trained Mosquito Blue Chip now has earned $23,938 in 2015 and $264,501
lifetime.
Morrill Jr. got his second Sire Stakes win of the evening
aboard Bettorhaveanother. A gutsy move by Morrill Jr. early in the race set up
Bettorhaveanother for the victory.
Watching a battle for the lead in the early going, Morrill
Jr. found a tiny hole to drop Bettorhaveanother in the fifth position.
That maneuver proved to be a good one as the tandem was able to pull out, pass
traffic, and move into the pocket behind the pace-setting My Little Delight.
In the stretch, Bettorhaveanother used the 'lightning lane'
and collared My Little Delight (Cummings) by a neck in 1:55.4 while Heaven On
Earth (John MacDonald) took third.
"She took a couple of bad steps in the beginning so I
wanted to drop her in to relax her. They were going kind of slow so I had to
pull her out," Morrill Jr. said of the second move. He added about the
stretch drive, "I had to steady her a bit but she was good."
Trained by Jackie Rousse and co-owned by Janie Martin and
Kellogg Racing Stable, Bettorhaveanother (Bettor's Delight-Katie My Girl) has
now won four straight, earning $59,440 in five seasonal starts. She has now
bankrolled $69,517 lifetime.
Band Of Angels had the easiest time of all three divisions
as she romped to a 4-3/4 win over Hipnumberone in 1:54.2. Gweneeee J (John
Cummings Jr.) took the show spot.
Winning driver Matt Kakaley said of Band Of Angels,
"She was very good. I really wasn't worried about anyone."
Taking the lead just past the opening marker, Band Of Angels
($5.10) went 58.0 to the half and never looked back thanks to a 27.2 last
stanza.
Trained by Ron Burke and owned by W.J. Donovan, it was the
first victory in three appearances this season for Band Of Angels (Rock N Roll
Hanover-Time N Again). It pushed her career earnings to $126,351.
In the $15,000 Excelsior 'A' Series, Hot Lemonade ($9.40)
took the first division in 1:55.4 while Jag Out ($5.30) captured the second leg
in 1:56.0.
In the non-betting $6,400 Excelsior 'B' Series event,
Kaitlyn Akeeper jogged to a 2:02.2 victory with Morrill Jr. in the sulky.
It was also a record-tying night in the 12th race as Skyway
Tia (Cummings) tied the track record for 4-year-old filly/mare pacers with a
1:55 clocking. It tied the mark set in 2009 by Bet The Ranch.
Racing returns on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. with a 12-race
card scheduled.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
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